Local duo to play in title game

Randy Hutchison and Dan Musielewicz will play for the Kalamazoo Xplosion in the CIFL championship game today at Wings Stadium.

Brian Calloway

After playing his final season of college football at Adrian College, Randy Hutchison thought his playing career was over and was ready to get into coaching.

A call from an indoor football league team shifted those plans. After working out with the Fort Wayne Freedom and signing a contract shortly after, Hutchison embarked on his indoor career and began to enjoy the sport.

“I fell in love with it (arena football),” said Hutchison, who played three years at Wayne State before ending his college career with Adrian College in 2005. “It really suits my game. There is no t a throw I can’t make in arena.”

Today, Hutchison and Britton native Dan Musielewicz will be playing on the Continental Indoor Football League’s biggest stage. As key members of the Kalamazoo Xplosion, they will compete against the Saginaw Sting in the league’s championship game at 3 p.m. today at Wings Stadium.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Hutchison said of his season. “This is my first chance to play in a league championship game since high school (at Onsted and Tecumseh). We have guys (on the team) that have been at the big stage and been successful. We’re going to put it all on the line just like we do every Saturday or Sunday.”

Hutchison and Musielewicz helped Kalamazoo to a 11-1 record during the regular season. Musielewicz, who played at Hillsdale College, has caught 30 passes for 308 yards and 10 touchdowns as a wide receiver. Hutchison, Kalamazoo’s starting quarterback, has thrown for 1,364 yards, 42 touchdowns and was intercepted just eight times. He has completed a league-best 64 percent of his passes.

The Kalamazoo Xplosion also feature Brian Dolph, who was an All-American at Saginaw Valley State University. Former University of Michigan running back Kelly Baraka and former Michigan State tailback Little John Flowers are also members of the Xplosion.

“I’ve always said I have more offensive weapons than any other team in the league,” Hutchison said.

Kalamazoo (13-1) reached the CIFL title game with a 56-42 win over the Rock River Raptors in the Great Lake Conference championship game on June 21. Hutchison threw for 182 yards and five touchdowns while Musielewicz had seven receptions for 80 yards and two touchdown receptions. The win gave the Xplosion their first conference title in franchise history.

With success in his first season as a starting quarterback, Hutchison said advancing in the arena football leagues is something he may be interested in doing in the future.

“It would have to be a good opportunity,” Hutchison said. “It’s definitely a possibility and I think I could play at the next level.”

For now, Hutchison will continue to make the two-hour drive from his home in Fort Wayne to Kalamazoo for practices and games.

“Hopefully come Sunday, it will be worth it,” Hutchison said.

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